Flow control



June 25, 1935.

J. A. SPENCER FLOW CONTROL Filed July 51, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet l f M w@ `)lune 25, 1935. '.x, A. SPENCER 2,006,152

Filed July 31, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 "7Min June' 25, 1935. J. A. SPENCER 2,006,152

FLOW CONTROL Filed July s1, 195s e sheets-sheet s June 25, v1.935.

J. A. SPENCER FLOW CONTROL Filed July 3l, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 2s, 1935. J A SPENCER 2,006,152

FLOW CONTROL Filed July 3l, 1933 6 SheeS-Sheet 5 x June 25,.'1935. A, SPENCER 2,006,152

FLOW CONTROL Filed July 3l, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 am i f3 FIG. 8. l 0? ,5 3105 mi,

9 l l .93 119 /5/ 117 125 /9/ 9M 97 1,23 i 49 n /2/ l /3/ 143 /53 155 /4/ 29 fz? /9/ l 5 3 /75 l A 5; 13a 169 Y/ l /l //l/ //l llll YJ i f 7 s/f f77 39 i5 ,8, 03 @QJ l.

FIG.IO.15Z l Patented June 25, 1935 o UNITED STATES PATENT oEFicE FLOW CONTROL John A. Spencer, Newtonville, Mass., signor to General Plate Company, Attleboro; Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 31, 1933, Serial No. 682.953 l 10 Claims. (Cl. IBI- 9) This invention relates to iluid flow controls. Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross section taken on and with regard to certain more specific features, lines l-l of Figures 3 and 4; to'means for controlling the flow of fluid with re- Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross section similar to gard to both time and temperature conditions. Fig. '1,vbut illustrating certain parts in their alter- 5 Among the several objects of the invention may nate operating positions; and, 5

be noted the provision of control means of the Figures 9, 10, and 11 are diagrammatic views class described which, when installed in a gas illustrating successive operating positions of cerrange, for example, is conditionable to permit the tain elements of the control means. n commencement of gas flow to the burners at a Similar reference characters indicate corredetermined time in the future, and to discontinue spending parts throughout the several views of 10 such ow ai; another determined time thereafter, the drawings. the flow atsuch future time being further condi- Gas ranges and similar devices have for some tioned by a pilot burner, whereby, if the burner time past been equipped with clock or time conis ignited, gas llow is permitted in the designated trois. whereby the user may set the control to 15 time interval, but if the burner is notl ignited, turn On the flOW 0f 88S at a predetermined time l5 gas flow is not permitted until such pilot burner in the future, and thereafter at a second predeteris reignited; the provision of a time-'controlled mined time cut oi! the ilow of the gas. The utility gas valve which includes means rendering the of such an arrangement is obvious. valve inoperative to open when an outside tem- It has also been the custom for some time past perature condition is not complied with; the proto provide gas ranges and the like with a thermo- 20 vision of a control means for gas ranges or stoves static safety pilot, such device functioning when which performs the joint functions of a clock the main pilot burner of the stove has been exvalve and a safety pilot; the provision of a continguished, to prevent the flow of gas to any of the trol means of the class described which automatiburners. This arrangement is conducive to safecally signals the user when the pilot burner is ty in operation, as it prevents the escape of gas 25 in such condition that no gas flow will be perfrom burners which are unignited due to the fact mitd; and the provision of control means of that the pilot burner is not in condition to ignite the class described which is relatively simple such burner.

,in construction and operation. Other objects will In the present invention, the control means be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereperforms the joint function of the clock or time 30 inafter. control and the safety pilot.

'I'he invention accordingly comprises the .ele- Referring to Fig. 1, numeral I indicates a gas ments and combinations of elements, features of range which is provided with a main pilot burner construction, and arrangements of parts which 3, it being presumed that the main pilot burner will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter 3 is amused fOr Constant burning. A supply 35 described, and the scope of the application of .pipe Needs gasto the ranseabranch pipe Uleadwlnch will be indieatedln the following claims. ing therefrom to the pilot burner 3. A valve 1.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is which forms part of a control means 9, controls mustrated one of various possible embodiments the 110W 0f ses from the Supply pipe 5 through 40 of the invention, a range main Il to the various burners of the 40 i Fig. 1 is an isometric View of a gas range em stove. The control means 9 comprises the present A I invention in particular. In the arrangement iggnlfleans accordance with the shown in- Fig. l, said control means 9 operates Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing in such manner that ilow of gas into themain Il the application of the control means an alternexlgtgslrl rgi 211g rghzsdfrlll 45 native manner; of time as is desired by the operator.

Fig- 3 i5 e back elevation of the control means Fig. 2 illustrates an alternative use of the con- ShOWIl in Figures 1 and 2S trol means '9, such use being in connection more Fg- 4 is e Vertical Seetlon 0f a Portion 0f the particularly with the oven part of the range. 50 control means; From ,the gas supply pipe 5 branches an oven sup- Flg. 5 is a vertical cross section taken on line ply pipe |3Lwh1ch leads to the valve 1 of ythe 5-5 of Fig. 4, and including a Valve; control means 9. From the inlet side of the valve Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic isometric view of cer 1 9, pipe I 5 conducts gas to an oven pilot burner tain control elements; Il, so that ilow of gas to said pilot burner Il is 55 ksteadyandis-notcontrolledllytheopeninganii closingofvalve1. Prolntheoutletsideofthe valve'1apipe I9leadstotheovenmanualoontrol valve 2|, and thence to a suitable oven temperature control valve'29, and thence to the oven burner 25. The pilot burner |1 is in position to ignite gas flowing into the oven burner 25 from the pipe I9. In this embodiment, the control means 9 functions in such manner that if the pilot burner I1 is not ignited, flow of gas through the pipe I9 is prevented. 'I'he control means 9 also functions to control the flow of gas to the oven burner to a predetermined time interval in the future. Y

Referring now more particularly to the control means 9, as illustrated in Figures l and 2 and the subsequent figures of the drawings, it will be seen to comprise a clock or like casing 21 on the front face of which appears a clock face 29 and a pair of set' dials 3| and 33, as well as a condition indicating window 35. Viewed from the back, as in Fig.3,thecasing21isnotdissimilartotheback of an ordinary alarm clock, having a hand-setting knob 31 as well as time on setting knob 39 and time ofi setting knob 4 I. A cooking lever 43 having a handle 45 is also provided. An electrical connection 41 .is illustrated, although it is to be understood that the clockwork mechanism may be spring driven or electrically driven, as the case may be, without affecting the functioning of the present invention.

Numeral 49 indicates the bottom of the cas ing 21, said bottom 49 being provided with a central cylindrical recess 5| adapted to receive a cylindrical upper end 53 of the valve 1. 'Ihe valve 1 comprises an inlet 55 and an outlet 51, together with a cylindrical body portion 59.

Extending from the back of the casing 21 is a bellows container or chamber 5|, from which protrudes a capillary tube or the like 53 terminated by a bulb or capsule 55. The tube 53 is sufliciently long to position the bulb 95 at the pilot burner which it is desired to use for the controlling factor.

The interior construction of the valve 1 is illustratedinFig.5. Itwillbeseentocomprlsea relatively long central bore 91 in a cylindrical portion 59, the bore 51 being counterbored as at numeral 59 at its lower end. The counterbore 59 provides an annular shoulder 1I. A cap 13 closes the lower end of the cylindrical body portion 59.`

In the bore 61 slides a member 15, which includes near its lower end a valve closure 11 adapted to seatand unseat upon the annular shoulder 1I. A continuation 19 of the body 15 slides in a central hole 8| in the cap 13, and is surrounded by a compression spring 83 which at all times urges the closure member 11 toseatl upon the annular shoulder 1|. lFrom the topof. the member 15 a portion 95 of reduced diameter extends upwardly through acap or casing 91 provided on the upper end ofthe valve. It willrbe seen-that bydethe member 15, as by pressing upon the pin 95, against the spring 93, the valve closure member 11 is unseated from the shoulder 1| to permit flow of gas from the inlet l55 to the outlet 51: but' when such pressure is removed from the pin 95 and the body 15 permitted to return to its normal position, the closure member "seats upon shoulder 1| to shut the valve and prevent communication between the inlet 55 and the outlet l1.

The inner constructionof the control means 9 per seisillustratedingreaterdetailinll'lgures 4, 5, etc. It will beseen'that the control means comprises a clockwork or escapement mechanism 99, which, in the present embodiment, is electrically driven. The particular construction of the clockworkmechanismllisofnoconsequenceto the present invention, it being suiiicient tov note that, for present purposes, its function is to drive amaingear9| rig1nes4and5)inaregular. timed manner. A particular description ofthe clockwork mechanism 91 will therefore not be given herein.

The main gear 9|, as driven by the clockwork mechanism, meshes withv and drives a pair of gears 93 and 95, which are rotatably mounted upon shafts 91 and 99. respectively. The gears 93 and 95 have fixed thereto and upstanding therefrom cylindrical elements |9| and |93, the upper edges of which constitute cam surfaces. The cam elements |9| and |93 are identical and are disclosed in like angular positions with respect to the gears 93 and 95. The shafts 91 and 99 carry, non-rotatably with respect thereto, discs |95 and |91 provided with noses |99 and III, respectively.V The noses |99 and engage the cam surfaces |9| and |93, respectively. Behind the gears 93 and 95 there are non-rotatably fixed to the shafts 91 and 99 a pair of arms ||3 and ||5, respectively, the arms I 3 and 5 facing or pointing towards each other. `Each arm ||3, ||5 is backed by a leaf spring ||1, vI I9. At the outer ends of the arms H9, I|5 aremounted bars |2|, |23 of rectangular or square cross section, in a position generally parallel to that of the shafts 91 and 99.

The shafts 91 and 99, as Well as the bars |2| 'The shafts 91, 99 extend forwardly from the gears 93, 95 through the face plate of the casing 21 and are outwardly terminated by hands |31, |39 which cooperate with the time on and time of! dials 3|, 33.

Suitable slots |4|, |43, through which the bars |2I, |23 extend, together with the leaf springs ||1, ||9, permit a swinging or sideward motion of the bars |2I, |23 in a manner to be described, within the limitation of the sizes of the slots |4I, and 43, however.

Also supported between the plates |25 and |21, in a position midway` between the shafts 91 and 99, is a central shaft I 45 (Figures 5 and 7). On its front end, the shaft |45 carries an indicating dial |41. Surrounding the shaft |45 in the region between the plates |25 and |21 is a coil spring |49, one end of which is afllxed to the plate |25 as indicated at numeral I5|, and the other end of which is aiiixed to a pin |53 passing through the shaft |45. The coil spring |49 provides a counterclockwise (when considered as shown in Pig. 4) torque on the shaft I 45 at all times. To the rear of plate |21 there is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft |45 a main cam |55 (see also Fig. 9), and behind the main cam |55 is a driving cam |51. The main cam |55 has a nose |9| thereon, one face |53 of which is flat and other face of which slopes gently from the normal circular periphery of the cam. 'I'he cam |51 is generally circular, but mounted off center on the shaft |45 to provide a lobe |51, the periphery of which is removed from the shaft |45 a greater accenna on the casing 21. The shaft |15 extends through to the outside of the casing and has mounted on its outer side the lever 42 hereinbefore referred to. The arrangement of the lever 42, sector gear |12 and pinion |09 is such that by depressing the lever 42, a clockwise rotation is imparted to the pinion |59 and hence to the shaft |45, against the action of the spring |49.

Behind the pinion |59, the shaft |45 extends into the chamber 5|. The chamber 5| comprises a cylindrical portion |11 which is welded or otherwise aillxed to the casing 21, and which is threaded on its outer end to receive a cap |19. Within the chamber 5| so constituted, the shaft |45 terminates in a head |8I. A compression spring |82 reacts at one end against the casing head |8|. From the other, stationary end of the bellows |85 extends Athe capillary tube 52 hereinbefore referred to. Lock nuts |81 secure lthe bellows |55 immovably in position, except, of course, that the free end of said bellows is free to move against the head |8| as the bellows expands and contracts. The system comprising the bellows |85, capillary tube 52, and bulb 55 is gas-tight, and contains a certain amount of an expansible fluid, such as ether or the like.

Referring more particularly -to Fig. 4,]numeral |89 indicates a lever comprising side pieces 9| and cross pins |92, |95, and |91, which rotates on a pin |99 mounted in the casing 21. The pin |95 is in position to engage the projecting stem of the valve 1, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and to depress said projection 85 when the lever |29 is moved downwardly from its Fig. 4 position. 'Ihe pin |91 extends from the lever |9| and carries on its outer end a roller 20|, which isv positioned between the plate |21 and the back casing wall 21 (see Fig. 7). The roller 20|, as illustrated more in detail in Fig. 9, rests upon and is engaged by the periphery of cam |51 under certain operating conditions to be described. 'I'he extent of will be occasioned in the recitedl example when the pilot burner is out, the bellows |85 is con-v tracted and spring |82 reacting on the head |8| will withdraw shaft |45 to a limited extent from the casing 21, This`T withdrawing motion re`- moves the cam |55 from such position that it can engage the ends of bars or latches |2| and |22. Accordingly, when the lever 42 is depressed in an endeavor to cock or set the device for further action, said lever 42 will not catch in itsdepressed position and no setting can be made, the lever 42 at once returning to its upper position under the action of the coil spring |49 driving the pinion |52. Under such conditions, therefore, it is impossible for the user to set the clockwork to open the valve 1, and this at once warns the user that the pilot burner is not ignited. When the pilot burner is ignited, the fluid in the bulb 55 expands and, transmitting its pressure through the capillary tube 52, causes the ybellows |95 to expand against the head |8| and shift the position of shaft |45 inwardly into the casing, against the action of the spring |82. The shaft |45 in its thus-shifted position is illustrated in Fig. 8. The cam |55 is now in position to engage the ends of bars |2| and |22. It is to be noted that, regardless of the longitudinal position of the shaft |45, the cam |55 engages the permanent stop 202.`

Setting of the device for' future operation is accomplished by manual rotation of the knobs 29 and 4|. 'I'he knob 29, it will be recalled, was indicated as the Time on knob, while the knob 4| was indicated as the "Time oif knob. By rotation of these knobs 29 and 4|, the discs |05 and I 01, and hence the projections |09 and (Fig. 6) are brought into various angular positions with respect to the cams |0| and |02. If the setting has been such as to engage the projections |09, with the ilat upper face of the cams |0|, |02, this laction moves both gears 92 and 95 backwardly on the shafts 91, 99, it being remembered that the discs |05, |01 were ilxed to the shafts 91, 99, while the gears 92, 95 were free to rotate relative to said shafts. 'I'his backward movement of the gears 82, 95 also longitudinally shifts the bars |2|, |22, .bringing their rearward ends into position to act as latches to intersect the path of the nose |5| of cam |55.

With the bars |2| |22 thus forced backwardly into intercepting position, the lever 42 may be manually depressed from the exterior of the device, the sector gear. |12 then rotating pinion |99, and hence the cam |55, in aclockwise direction (Fig. 9). The elements then proceed from the Fig. 9 position to the Fig. 10 position. In'

passing from the Fig. 9 position to the Fig; 10 position, the projection |5| temporarily forces the ends of bars |2| and |22 aside by the engagement of sloping face |95 of said projection, the slots |4| and |42 permitting such sideward displacement of the ends of bars |2| and |22. In the nal, completely cocked position, the projection |5| is caught or latched againstthe bar |22, this obstruction preventing the return of""' the cam |55 to its initial or Fig. 9 position under the rotating influence of the spring |49. s

Nothing now happens until the 'time is vreached for which'the knob 29 has been set; in other words, the time at which it is desired to turn on the gas. By this time, the clockwork-controlled gear 9| (Fig. 6) has driven the gear 95 to rotate, carrying with it the cam |02, until the projection is positioned on the sharp edge ||2 of said cam |02. 'I'he longitudinal position of the gear 95, and hence the shaft |22, has not in the meantime shifted. However, during the `next instant the projection |I| passes oif the sharp edge ||2 and the gear 951s permitted to spring forward, carrying with it the bar |22, which thus moves forward withdrawing its latching end from the path of the projection i5| of cam |55. This permits the cam |55 to rotate instantaneously, under the influence of the 75 spring |4I, to the position shown in Pig. il, at which time the projection IM is stopped by enselement with the latching end of bar ill, which has not yet been removed from operative position. However, in rotating thus far. the cam I Il has carried with it in rotation the driving cam |51, and the lobe |01 being in enst with the roller 20| of the lever |89, depresses said lever so that the pin |05 depresses the projection Il to open the valve permitting the flow of gas.

Gas flow isthus permitted until time is reached forautomatically turning oi! the flow of gas, which has been predetermined by the initial setting of the lmob 4|. Engagement of the projection IUI with cam IM. (Fig. 6) ultimately causes the bar |2i to move outwardly and remove its iatching end from position obstructing the cam Ill, permitting said cam IBI to move from its Pig. 11 position back to its initial. Fig. 9 position. 'Ihis rotation of cam |55 carries with it rotation of cam |51 and removes the lobe |01 from engagement with the roller thus permitting the spring 83 of the valve i to force lever |89 upwardly again and close the valve l.

Re recapitulate, the sequence of operations is as follows: The user of the device first sets the knobs I9 and 4| to the appropriate times at which it is desired to turn on and oil' the flow of gas. The user then depresses the lever 4l. If the pilot burner is ignited, this depressing of the lever 43 results in cooking the device by movement of the cam I 55 and its engagement with the latching ends of bars |2i and |23. This being the case, a definite time expiresupon the completion of which the cam |55 moves to open the valve. At the expiration of another interval of time. the cam |55 moves again to shut the valve, thus completing the cycle of operations. If, however, thev pilot burner is not ignited, depressing of the lever 43 does not result in any cooking.

' for the cam |45 is not in position to engage the latching ends of bars |2| and |23, regardless of the operative position of said bars. Thus the user is warned that his pilot burner is not in operation, and that he must light it before he can set the time control feature of the stove to operate.

If, during a cycle, the pilot burner becomes extinguished, this moves the shaft |46 longitudinally regardless of the condition of the device and immediately permits the cam I 55 to return to its initial, or Fig. 9 position, thus cutting of! the flow of gas if it is on or moving into position to prevent ultimate turning on of the gas if it is off. 'Ihus accidents incident to the extinguishment of the pilot burner are avoided.

. The present invention is thus particularly applicable, it will be understood, when the pilot burner in the range is in an invisible position, as when it is inside the oven for lighting the oven burner.

'Ihis invention is broadly applicable to any gas appliances uponwhich automatic timing is desirable, such as ranges, stoves, water heaters, coffee urns, egg boilers, laundry equipment, space heating equipment, and the like. y

The dial |41 may carry suitable indicia thereon to appear at the window 35 on the front of the device, and thus indicate the instantaneous condition of the control. Such legends, for example,

may comprise the wording "Set" to correspond to the Fig. l0 position, the word "On" to correspond to the Fig. 11 position, and the word Oil'" to correspond to the Fig. 9 position. These legends appearing at the window Il further facilitate the ease with which the user may read the condition of his control.

In view of the above, itiwili be seen that the several objects ofthe invention are achieved and other advantageousresults attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without kdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above .description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting I claim:

l. A nuid now control comprising a valve, a valve-actuating stem extending from said valve and operable, upon reciprocation thereof, to open and shut said valve, means engaging said stem for reciprocating the same, said means including a main shaft having an eccentric cam thereon, said main shaft having a plurality of angular positions determining through said eccentric cam the condition of said valve, a spring at all times urgingsaidmainshafttoreturntoaflrstofsaid angular positions determining a closed valve condition, manually actuatable'means for rotating said main shaft against said spring progressively through a second of said angular positions determining an open valve condition, to a third of said angular positions again determining a closed valvev condition, a stop-cam on said main shaft, latch bars positioned at said second and third positions with respect to said stop-cam, and time-controlled means operatively controlling the position of said latch bars, each of said latch bars being movable into position to intercept the rotation of said stop-cam, and thereby to hold 'said main shaft in its respective angular position against the action of said spring until the expiration of a predetermined time interval, land temperature-responsive means forshifting said main shaft longitudinally on its axis, whereby, under one set of external temperature conditions, said stopcam is removed from intercepted position with respect to said latch bars regardless of their timecontrolled position, and whereby said main shaft is automatically returned under the action of said spring to said first angular position. regardless of the condition of said time-controlled latch bars.

2. A control as set forth in claim l. in which the temperature responsive means comprises a hermetically sealed system including a bulb positioned in the region the temperature of which it is desired to make the control responsive to, a bellows, and a tube connecting said bulb and bellows, said system being filled .with a gas expansible under advancing temperature conditions to extend the bellows, and means holding the bellows in proximity to the end of the main shaft, whereby movement of the bellows effects said longitudinal shifting of the main shaft.

3.Acontrolassetforthinclaiml,inwhich the temperature responsive means comprises a hermetically sealed system including a bulb positioned in the region the temperature of which it is desired to make the control responsive to. a bellows, and a tube connecting said bulb and bellows, said system being filled with a gas expansible under advancing temperature conditions to extend the bellows, means holding the bellows in proximity to the end of the main shaft, whereby movement of the bellows effects said llongitudinal shifting of the main shaft, and spring means normally pressing the main shaft longitudinally in a direction opposite to the direction imparted to said main shaft by said expanding bellows.

4. A control as set forth in claim 1, in which said time-controlled means include means for separately, adjustably predetermining the length of the time interval during which each of said latch bars will remain in position to intercept the rotation of said stop-cam.

5. A control as set forth in claim 1 in which the time-controlled means comprises a single clockwork mechanism operating both of said latch bars, and means for separately, adjustably predetermining the length of the time interval, under control of said clockwork mechanism, duringv which each of said latch bars will remain in position to intercept the rotation of said stop-cam.

6. A control asgset forth in claim l, in which each of the latch "bars is provided with a resilient mounting permitting it to spring aside to pass said stop-cam when the same is being manually rotated in a direction against its spring.

'1. A control as set forth in claim l, in which the manually actuatable means comprises a shaft, a lever secured to said. shaft, a sector gear attached to said shaft, and a pinion on said main shaft meshing with said sector gear.

8. A fluid flow control comprising a valve, a valve-actuating stem extending from said valve and operable, upon reciprocation thereof, toropen and shut said valve, means engaging said stem fory reciprocating the same, said means including a main shaft having an eccentric cam thereon, said main shaft having two positions longitudinally of its axis, and means for shifting said main shaft between said two longitudinal positions in vresponse to external. temperature variations, said stem-engaging means being operable in both of said longitudinal positions, said main shaft having three angular positions, in a first of which said eccentric cam is positioned to maintain said valve in closed position, in the second of which said eccentric cam is positioned to maintain said valve in open position, and in the third of which said eccentric cam is positioned to maintain said valve in closed position, means tending at all times to retum said mam shaft' to its salam-st angulr position, and manual means for moving said main shaft from its said first to its said third angular position, time-controlled means, and means operatively interconnecting said time-controlled means and said main shaft in such manner that said time-controlled means is effective to delay the return of said main shaft from its said third to its said second angular position, and from its said second to its said first angular position, said interconnecting means, however, operatively connecting said time-controlled means and said main shaft only when said main shaft is in one its two said longitudinal positions.

9. A control as set forth in claim 8, in which the temperature responsive means comprises a hermetically sealed system including a bulb positioned in the region the temperature of which it is desired to make the control responsive to, a bellows, and a tube connecting said bulb and bellows, said system being iilled with a gas expansible under advancing temperature conditions to extend the bellows, and means holding the bellows in proximity to the end of the main shaft, whereby movement of the bellows eilects said longitudinal shifting of the main shaft.

l0. A control as set forth in claim 8, in which the temperature responsive means comprises a hermetically sealedsystexn including a bulb posi,- tioned in the region the temperature of which it is desired to make the control responsive to, a bellows, and a tube connecting said bulb and bellows, said system being filled with a gas expansible under, advancing temperature conditions to extend the bellows, means holding the bellows in proximity to the end of the main shaft, whereby movement of the bellows effects said longitudinal shifting o the main shaft, and spring means normally J OHN A. SPENCER. 

